Like a G6, Like a G6

Ok, so maybe I’m actually “feelin’ so fly” like a 747 – hah!  My legs felt like LEAD when I woke up this morning!  Today’s run officially marked my third time running in Vibrams.  My calves are so freakin’ sore and my lungs hurt!  Fellow awesome blogger, Matt, has also began running in Vibrams this week; we have the same model too- the Bikila!  Read about his experience here.

Since I have pretty calloused feet, I haven’t experienced any blisters wearing the Vibrams.  However, I’ve also been running outside, where it’s freezing, so my feet haven’t really been sweaty.

Anyways, I’ve been munching on TJ’s pita chips as my “recovery” food for the past few days.  These chips are kind of bland on their own but with hummus, they’re heaven!

Oh, and last night I finally purchased a watch!

Part of Citizen’s Eco Drive Collection

It’s solar powered!

I was highly impressed by how quickly the serviceman at Macy’s sized my watch.  I used to do it myself when I bought watches online and it took forever!

The guy did it in about a minute!!!

Anyways, it seems that everyone is gong to the Foodbuzz Festival and I’m super jealous!  I guess I’ll have to live vicariously through Suki and Lynn for the next few days .  Anyone with a G6 willing to fly me to San Fran???  I’ll rap for you!

Good Dogs Gone Bad + Healthy Living Summit

My landlord is having a fit because Wishbone has been pooping everywhere at night. Wishbone had managed to figure out a way to escape the “baby fence” which encloses her in the kitchen and laundry room and went poopy in the living room… on both of my landlord’s new rugs.  Since Wishbone is my landlord’s dog, although I unofficially claim ownership, she is banished from the house today and is spending the day in the garage.  ::Sigh:: the dogs drive me nuts!  They are both so cute but so naughty!

Anyways, onto something exciting!  Guess who’s going to speak at the Healthy Living Summit (HLS)??? I was so surprised and happy that they accepted my proposal for eating ethically on a budget.  I will post more details later!

The one thing, though, that scares me to death about the HLS is that I’ll need to be in sick shape for it.  They are even having a “fun” 5k.  I can’t run very far on pavement and that’s a huge problem.  Thus, I’ve devised a training plan and will be posting my weekly workouts.

This is what I have planned so far:

Week 1 May 17th – May 23rd

Monday: Run 30 min

Tuesday: Run 35 min

Wednesday: Run 25 min + workout video

Thursday: Run 30 min

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Run 45 min

Sunday: Rest

I started running yesterday and it was TOUGH!  I only ran/ walked about 2 miles :-\.  I made up for my lack of distance by doing the Tracey Anderson Mat Workout, which is a killer!

Today I ran with my roommate Sara.  We ran a mile and a quarter together and then I took a water break and ran about a mile later with Dave.  I tried to do the Tracy Anderson video again but I was so sore!  I managed to get through the arms though, whew!

I am also trying to get more protein into my diet.  For breakfast I’ve been eating Kashi Go Lean Original cereal with flax seeds.  For lunch I had a tempeh salad:

I dressed it with an asian style peanut butter dressing using pb, soy sauce, siracha sauce and water.  It sounds gross but is absolutely delicious!  I’m planning to switch from eating mostly tofu to eating more tempeh.  Compared to tofu, tempeh has a much more dense and dry texture.  It also has a hell of a lot more protein! Yum yum!

For dinner I made a “meatball” salad using my favorite vegan meat substitute, Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs!

I used meatless meatballs, onions, tomatoes and olives to adorn my plate of kale.  Kale is quickly becoming my favorite veggie.

Dave also had a salad.

He prefers romaine lettuce to kale and adorned his salad with meatless meatballs, sauteed frozen veggie mix, giardiniera, olives, onions and tomatoes.

I must say that since I discovered the salad spinner, I’ve been making a lot more salads.  Now, I can’t imagine life without it!

Anyways, I’m kind of nervous about speaking at the HLS because I’ll be surrounded with such prominent bloggers!!! My goal from now on is to try to update my blog as often as I can, eeep!

Meatballs and Pasta – Vegan Style

Today was a gorgeous day with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees.  Dave and I went for a 3.5 mile jog/ walk around my town.  We decided to check out Frank Lloyd Wright’s house and studio.  Unfortunately it was closed by the time we ran there but it was still pretty cool to see the buildings.

I can’t believe it but I think I officially have my love for running back again!  I dreaaaaded running in college because it was all I did.  No one forced me to run, but I did it to burn off the pizza and beer.  Now that I’m out of school, I feel as if I’ve learned so much more about myself in terms of what my body can do.

Anyways, Dave decided to make me dinner so I just sat around with Jean and watched Dancing With the Stars as he slaved away in the kitchen.  On that note, I KNEW AIDEN WAS GOING HOME!  He just doesn’t do it for me.  My favorite couple is Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke, Chad is so funny and cute.  However, the couple who will probably win is Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya.

Before I post pictures of my “italiano” meal, I gave Cody a photoshoot with a flower Dave picked for me .

Pretty flower

Pretty dog

Cody says, “This is so emasculating!”

On to dinner!  Dave made rotini pasta and served it with a homemade marinara sauce stewed with Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs.

I then remembered that we had cilantro and promptly added a few chopped up sprigs.

mmmmm delicious!

Tomorrow I want to plan a run by Hemingway’s home.  I’m going to force Dave to bring his phone because it takes great pictures and is smaller than my camera .

Running for Fun

When Dave got home from school today, I decided that we should go for a run because it was so nice out.  We ran/ walked about 3 miles.  It was nice because we went through the Oak Park Arts District and through a playground.  I have to say that I felt so out of shape at the playground!  When I was little, I looooved climbing up poles and doing the monkey bars, now it’s such a challenge!

Overall, I really did miss running outside with a friend.  In high school, I ran year round; I did cross-country, winter track, and spring track, so running was an every day thing.  What made running fun for me, was having people to talk to.  I remember laughing so hard while running that I would get so winded that I’d have to stop to catch my breath.  Those were the good old days.

Anyways, when I got home I was starving as usual.  I had a craving for string beans today and had made string beans for lunch and dinner.  For lunch, I just stir fried the beans in some smart balance and mixed them with some garlic and jardinera.

mmmm… I love green foods!

Then for dinner, I made the beans in the same way, except that I added in some edamame, corn, black beans, and carrots for an asian/mexican/ italian fusion green bean dish.

Dave made some mei fun to go with our meal.

Yum Yum!

Anyways, I had received an email from a reader asking me to put up more recipes, which I def will .  The thing is, is that many times I just wing it instead of using a recipe.  I kind of eat what I crave and don’t really think twice about what types of veggies or spices I put in my food.  I kind of smell the spice and if it goes with my dish, I put it in.  Some may think this is strange, but I don’t even think twice about it.  Anyways, I promise that if there is a dish that I make often, I will try my best to give exact measurements of the ingredients I use.  So look for more recipes soon!